Newt Gingrich implores GOP leaders to back Todd Akin

KIRKWOOD, Mo. — Newt Gingrich thundered into this sleepy St. Louis suburb Monday to demand that Mitt Romney and the Republican establishment put their weight behind Todd Akin’s embattled candidacy, warning that their hopes of a Senate majority will be imperiled if they don’t.

Stumping through the six-term congressman’s district, the former House speaker had some tough words for a Republican Party that has all but abandoned Akin after he said last month that “legitimate rape” rarely leads to pregnancy.

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Republican leaders have a “moral obligation” to get fully behind Akin, Gingrich said. He warned it would be “historically irrational” to sit out a crucial race and that a “monied establishment” should not lecture Missouri voters about a nominee who fairly won his primary battle.

When Akin wins, Gingrich predicted, they would invite every “idiot naysayer” in Washington to the victory party.

“If Todd and the people of Missouri prove it’s a close race, what’s the moral case for not backing the Republican nominee picked by the people of Missouri who is in a close race with an incumbent liberal Democrat?” Gingrich told reporters and Akin supporters packed into a rustic train station. “How do they go back to their donors and say, ‘I don’t want to throw the Senate away’?”

Gingrich’s defiant posture was meant to energize conservatives worried that the internal civil war over Akin would cost their party a sure bet: defeating first-term Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in the fall. It was also intended to put the onus squarely on GOP leaders, since a Tuesday deadline for Akin to withdraw is about to pass.

“This is a winnable race,” Gingrich said. “I don’t see how any national Republican in good conscience after tomorrow has any choice except to [support Akin]. … And I expect all of them will be in by mid-October.”

Added Akin: “For about the hundredth time or so, I am in this race.”

It may not be that easy. The National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Republican National Committee, which vowed not to support Akin if he stayed in, say they’re not changing their minds. And powerful outside groups such as Crossroads GPS aren’t spending millions they had planned to use to attack McCaskill.

Addressing uneasy supporters at a $500-a-plate fundraiser for Akin, Gingrich called on donors to help mount a campaign to force the party establishment in Missouri and Washington to re-engage.

“It makes me so angry at them doing this,” said Donna Hayes, a supporter from Akin’s hometown of Wildwood who was among the 40 or so donors who attended the fundraiser lunch of filet mignon, salmon and minestrone.

Gingrich’s emergence in the campaign also put fresh pressure on his old primary rival Romney, who needs to win Missouri to have a chance in the fall. But Romney, who has called on Akin to drop out, wants to stay away from the congressman as he tries to close the gender gap with President Barack Obama.

“My expectation will be that in the crunch, in October, Gov. Romney is going to be for the entire ticket,” Gingrich said. “And he’s going to be for Todd Akin. And clearly Gov. Romney has to carry Missouri in order to win the presidency. And when he carries Missouri, he makes it almost impossible for Claire McCaskill. How many people are going to split their ticket and have a Romney-McCaskill ticket?”

Gingrich: "I think there may be some validity to Congressman Akin's theory that women can use willpower to ward off unwanted pregnancy. I mean look at me. Married three times, God knows how many mistresses, and only 2 children from my first marriage. Granted, I'm more of a ******** man myself, but still."

Like it or not, the GOP is running, not just from Akin, but from the Missouri voters that nominated him. In all fairness, it may well have been a 'contrived' victory, since it was probably Claire McCaskill's campaign ads, ostensibly against Akin that ended up giving him the win -- but nevertheless, he won, and now, the GOP is trying to pretend they can have a do-over. They owe the voters their best effort to help try to unseat Claire McCaskil, since that's what we, ourselves, are trying to do.

You mean Bill Clinton or Ted Kennedy? Both of whom were accused by multiple women of sexual harassment and rape. Akin says 6 seconds of something stupid and we throw him to the wolves.? Hey Priebus you self important jerk, I want the money back I sent the NRSC. In fact, every dime Missourians sent you should be returned. Akin was elected by the people of Missouri to run against this liar McCaskill. It's not your job to veto the decision people of Missouri. The NRSC is supposed to be electing Republicans to the Senate-Do your damn job!

Yes very true - Todd Akin is correct and he articulates very well what Mitt and Paul feel.

There is no reason for RINOs to run away from these things that SEVERE CONSERVATIVES know to be true! The Republican Platform clearly states that no baby should every be aborted, not in case of any sort of Rape or fake danger to the mother that doctors make up.

#4 Womanizer. Oskar Schindler was reportedly a womanizer. Misanthrope? How is Gingrich a misanthrope?

Steve, do we really have to spell it out to you? Pretty much everything Newt says displays misanthropy for anything less than the most extreme right-wing ideologues and god-botherer’s. Need another?

And true, Schindler was a womaniser (yes, it's spelt with an 's' in Australia) and a ******* at that, but he did some really great, humane and thoughtful things in life, completely UNLIKE Newt, who is just a womanising, hateful, *******ly misanthrope spewing verbal diarrhea any chance he gets.

Everyone knew that the GOP would come around and support Atkin. Women can see through their fake concern and morality. After all Ryan co sponsored the bill with Atkins and many Repubs supported this bill. Ryan and Romeny want to make law the person hood bill- so birth control is illegal for everyone not just the poor.

They have no morality they believe the government should tell a woman what she can and can't do with her own body. Funny thing I don't see Ryan writing laws that demand healthy men must give one of their kidneys to those on waiting lists that will die without one. Oh I get it a man doesn't want the government telling them what to do with their body.

Biggest users of welfare are single women and their children and the Repubs want to outlaw birth control and abortion.